Music Manager Awards night

Julie Foai

May 12, 2017

Te Vaka has been nominated for and won many awards over the last 20 years but I have always stayed behind the lines, just working by myself mostly, occasionally seeking advice from others in the industry but because Te Vaka isn't a pop or rock band I have had to figure a lot of it out as I went along. When I received the email to say I had been nominated for the MMF (Music Managers) "International achievement" award I was pleasantly surprised but didn't really give it a lot of thought. I was still busy with Disney stuff, even though the movie is already out and wasn't really sure if we had time to fly to New Zealand to attend the awards or not. However, Opetaia was insistent on us going, so about a week before the awards night I booked tickets for Opetaia, myself and Olivia and invited all the Te Vaka team in New Zealand to share the night with me. I knew everyone was busy so I fully expected only a few people would come - but everyone came. Sulata, Vai, Neil, Edwin, my brother and sister, Opetaia's sister, they all came with their partners for my night. I was starting to feel a bit excited. On arrival, we were met by musicians, managers, journalists and more, many people I had known over the many years of managing Te Vaka. I received many warm hugs and words of congratulations for everything we had achieved and of course particularly Moana. I was fine until they started to announce the winners. I started to feel nervous in a way I haven't felt for years and as they came to the International Achievement award I was feeling like I might fall to bits at any moment. When they announced my name I almost did! The band cheered loudly and I made my way to the stage wondering how I was going to say anything as I was completely overwhelmed with emotion. You just never know how these things are going to hit you. To be acknowledged by my peers after all these years of work was such an incredible feeling, one that I had not expected. I was terribly emotional but managed to say a few words to thank the MMF for actually being there and supporting the people that do all the jobs that no-one else wants to do. I do not recall ever feeling so appreciated in my life. Everyone that came up to me to say congratulations was truly happy for me. Thank you MMF this has meant more to me than I can easily express.

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TE VAKA BEATS - OUT NOW!

"TE VAKA BEATS" is a 10 track album of new percussion tracks written by Te Vaka's master percussionist - Matatia Foai and produced by Opetaia Foai. "Te Vaka Beats" is for dancers, choreographers and anyone who loves log drums, skin drums and adventurous percussions. Mastered at "The Bakery" in LA by Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer, Eric Boulanger, you have not heard log drums like this before.